Cable-cutting pliers with guide loop

ABSTRACT

A cable-cutting pliers is provided with a closed guide loop secured to the pliers through which may be passed the cut end of a specific cable to be removed from among a plurality of cables. After an initial cut is made at the terminal point on the frame where the cable can be positively identified, the cut cable is held captive to the pliers and yet the pliers may be moved along the cable and the cable rack towards the other end so that the dead cable may be lifted and cut at various points along the route with the assurance that it is the same cable initially cut. Several such cuts ordinarily will be required due to the length of the cable rack, the interference of other cables and the construction of the rack itself.

United States Patent [72] Inventors Leroy E. Lattin;

Bjarne I. Byberg, both of San Fernando,

Calif.

21 AppLNo. 13,055

[22] Filed Feb. 20,1970

[45] Patented Dec.2l,197l

[73] Assignee Universal ProductsCorporation San Fernando, Calif.

[54] CABLE-CUTTING PLIERS WITH GUIDE LOOP 2 Claims, 3 Drawing Figs.

2,751,682 6/1956 Stout ABSTRACT: A cable-cutting pliers is provided with a closed guide loop secured to the pliers through which may be passed the cut end of a specific cable to be removed from among a plurality of cables. After an initial cut :is made at the terminal point on the frame where the cable can be positively identified, the cut cable is held captive to the pliers and yet the pliers may be moved along the cable and the cable rack towards the other end so that the dead cable may be lifted and cut at various points along the route with the assurance that it is the same cable initially cut. Several such cuts ordinarily will be required due to the length of the cable rack, the interference of other cables and the construction of the rack itself.

PATENTED 05021 I978 [NVENTORSZ LEROY E. LATTIN BJARNE BYBERG BY QAZZ Lw 012% ATTORNEYS.

CABLE-CUTTING PLIERS WITH GUIDE LOOP This invention relates generally to cable-cutting tools and more particularly, to an improved cable-cutting pliers with a guide loop to minimize the probability of errors in cutting working cables.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In repairing or reworking electrical systems which employ a large number of cables such as in telephone central offices, it is often necessary to remove certain cables. Normally, this is accomplished by utilizing cable cutting pliers and simply severing a cable at one terminal connection. The worker will then cut successive portions of the cable at various points along the cable rack which may extend for a considerable distance from the first end and thus remove the entire cable section by section.

In the foregoing process, errors can very often occur because of the large number of cables present. Thus, the worker will cut one end of a cable and then proceed to make other cuts such as at various interference points along the cable rack. Where there are several dozens of cables in the same cable rack, it is very possible that the worker will cut the wrong cable at the other side of an interference point or at the other end and thus telephone subscribers whose lines are associated with the incorrectly cut cable will be out of service.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION The present invention contemplates the provision of an improved cable-cutting pliers wherein a guide loop is provided on the pliers and utilized in a manner to avoid the possibility of inadvertently cutting an incorrect cable.

In accord with the invention, the guide loop is formed from a rod element curved into a U-shape. The ends of the U-shape are secured to a plier arm adjacent to the pivot point of the arms to define a closed loop. The loop itself extends beyond the ends of the cutting blades. With this arrangement, a cable to be removed after it is initially cut is passed through the guide loop. The pliers and loop are thus moved along this particular cable towards its other end so that assurance is had that the proper cable is being cut at various points along its path and removed. Even if there are a plurality of other cables on the cable rack supporting the one cable in question, tracing the one cable by means of the guide loop on the pliers assures that the same cable will be cut along its route and thus errors are avoided.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS A better understanding of the invention will be had by referring to a preferred embodiment thereof as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a cable system illustrating the manner in which cable-cutting pliers in accord with the present invention might be used to remove a section of cable;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged elevational view of the cable-cutting pliers used in FIG. ljand,

FIG. 3 is a cross section taken in the direction of the arrows 33 of FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring first to FIG. 1, there is shown a terminal panel adjacent to a cable rack 11 carrying a plurality of cables 12 connected to the panel such as might be encompassed within a telephone central office. The rack 11 may extend for a considerable distance and will periodically include support brackets such as indicated at 13 and 14 to properly secure the rack to a wall.

In certain situations it is often necessary to remove one of the various cables connected to the panel 10. Normally, this is accomplished by simply cutting the cable to be removed at its initial end connection to the panel such as indicated for the cable 15. The same cable is then successively cut at various interference points along the rack as necessitated by the presence of the support brackets and removed section by section. However, in view of the large number of cables carried on the rack, it is not always certain that the cable initially cut will be the same cable at points along the rack.

In accord with the present invention, there are provided the improved cable-cutting pliers 16 wherein a closed guide loop is provided through which one end of the cut cable 15 may be passed. The pliers can thus be moved along a path adjacent to the plurality of cables 12' with the one cable 15 passing through the loop and thus being held captive by the pliers. When the worker reaches an interference point such as the bracket 13 he need then only cut that particular cable passing through the loop. The pliers may then be moved to the other side of the bracket and the cut end of the cable passed through the guide loop so that tracing can continue. It is thus assured that the same cable is being cut as was initially cut.

Referring now to FIG. 2, details of the improved cable cutting pliers 116 with the guide loop'willl be described.

As shown in FIG. 2, the cable cutting pliers include plier arms 17 and 18 terminating in opposed cutting blades 19 and 2'1]. The arms are pivoted together at 21 for scissoring movement. Preferably, each of the arms includes an insulating sleeve or jacket such as shown at 22 and 23. The arm 17 may include a small projection 24 serving as a stop to limit the degree of closure of the pliers.

In accord with the present invention, there is provided integrally with or rigidly secured to the .arm l8 a structure 25 from which arms 26 and 27 project and connect together to define a generally U-shaped closed loop 28. The end of this loop extends beyond the ends of the cutting blades by a distance designated d and the opening of the loop is in alignment with the receiving opening of the cutting blades as clearly shown in FIG. 2 so that a cable fed through the loop is in position for cutting. The loop itself is preferably formed from a rod structure curved into the shape shown and covered over a substantial portion of its length with an insulation medium 29 to provide a smooth surface.

With particular reference to FIG. 3, it will be noted that the rod structure defining the arm 26 is circular in cross section, the insulated covering 29, which might be Teflon, for example, providing a very smooth surface.

OPERATION The operation of the cable-cutting pliers will be evident from the foregoing description. With reference once again to FIG. 1, to assure that only a single cable will be cut and removed from the panel, an initial cut of the proper cable is made. The cut end of the cable is then fed through the loop 28 of the pliers of FIG. 2 and the pliers and loop moved along the cable holding the cable captive throughout this movement. The particular cut cable can thus be traced along the plurality of cables that might be present. When the worker reaches an interference point as might be caused by the pressure of the other cables or by the cable rack support brackets, the particular cable captured within the loop is cut and the cut section is removed. The remaining end of the cable is passed through the loop and the tracing continued as indicated by the dotted line position 1b of the pliers in FIG. 1. Successive cuts where necessary are made as described heretofore until the entire cable is removed from the system.

Because of the insulation about the curved rod defining the loop, minimal risk is involved in damaging or chafing the other active cables remaining on the rack.

From the foregoing description, it will thus be evident that the present invention has provided a greatly improved cable cutting pliers wherein possible errors in removing sections of cable are minimized.

We claim:

ll. A cable-cutting pliers comprising, in combination: plier arms pivoted together for scissoring movement and terminating in opposed cutting blades; and a rod element curved into a U-shape, the ends of said U-shape being secured to one of said plier arms adjacent to the point of pivoting of said arms so that said rod defines a closed loop, said loop extending beyond the ends of said cutting blades and the opening defined by said loop being in alignment with the receiving opening of the cutting blades so that one end of a cut cable among a plurality of cables may be received through said closed loop, said pliers and loop then being moved along and guided by said cable towards the other end of said cable, the cable being in position 

1. A cable-cutting pliers comprising, in combination: plier arms pivoted together for scissoring movement and terminating in opposed cutting blades; and a rod element curved into a U-shape, the ends of said U-shape being secured to one of said plier arms adjacent to the point of pivoting of said arms so that said rod defines a closed loop, said loop extending beyond the ends of said cutting blades and the opening defined by said loop being in alignment with the receiving opening of the cutting blades so that one end of a cut cable among a plurality of cables may be received through said closed loop, said pliers and loop then being moved along and guided by said cable towards the other end of said cable, the cable being in position for cutting, whereby when cutting the various portions of the cable passing through said loop, it is assured that the same cable is being cut.
 2. A cable-cutting pliers according to claim 1, in which said rod is substantially circular in cross section and is covered by a smooth insulating material so that when said loop is moved along said cable, possible friction and damage to adjacent cables is minimized. 